AF control apparatus

ABSTRACT

An AF control apparatus includes a plurality of movable lens groups, each of which is movable along an optical axis for performing focusing independently, and a driving system for moving each of the movable lens groups. A moving path of each of the movable lens groups during an autofocusing operation is defined so that a ratio of moving distances of the each of the movable lens groups is constant over an entire zoom range.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an AF (auto focusing) control apparatus in which a plurality of movable lens groups serve as a focusing lens group during AF.

2. Description of the Related Art

The publication of Japanese Patent No. 2548307 discloses a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens groups. In this zoom lens system, only the rearmost lens group positioned closest to the image side operates as a focusing lens group. However, since the focusing sensitivity of the rearmost lens group is almost constant regardless of the focal length of the zoom lens system, the moving distance of the rearmost lens group during focusing is larger at the telephoto side than at the wide-angle side. Therefore, in such an AF mechanism, the AF operation at the telephoto side requires a large amount of time. Also, in order to shorten the minimum photographing distance as much as possible, a large moving distance of the rearmost lens group is required. However, the moving distance of the rearmost lens group cannot be sufficiently increased since interference with the lens group provided in front of the rearmost lens group must be avoided. Therefore, the minimum photographing distance cannot be shortened very much.

In this regard, an AF control apparatus has been developed in which two lens groups in a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens groups serve as a focusing lens. The two lens groups are moved together along an optical axis so as to reduce the moving distance of the two focusing lens groups during an AF operation and to shorten the AF operation time and the minimum photographing distance, particularly at the telephoto side (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-120678).

However, if two focusing lens groups are employed as a movable lens group as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-120678, a complex control system is required for controlling the operation of the focusing lens groups.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an AF control apparatus having a control system which can control a plurality of focusing lens groups at the same time in a simpler manner than that in conventional apparatus.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an AF control apparatus is provided, including a plurality of movable lens groups, each of which is movable along an optical axis for performing focusing independently, and a driving system for moving each of the movable lens groups. A moving path of each of the movable lens groups during an autofocusing operation is defined so that a ratio of moving distances of the each of the movable lens groups is constant over an entire zoom range.

It is desirable for the ratio of the moving distances to be an integer ratio.

It is desirable for the driving system to include a plurality of pulse motors, the number of which corresponds to the number of the movable lens groups, each of the pulse motors providing a driving force to respective each of the movable lens groups, wherein the pulse motors have the same step angle; a plurality of rotational force transmission mechanisms, the number of which corresponds to the number of the movable lens groups, each of the rotational force transmission mechanisms transmitting a driving force generated by respective the each of the pulse motors to respective the each of the movable lens groups, wherein the rotational force transmission mechanisms have the same moving pitch; and a control device for sending a pulse signal having a pulse rate defined for each pulse motor to each of the pulse motors. A ratio of the pulse rates, of the pulse signals to be sent to respective the pulse motors during the autofocusing operation, is the same as a corresponding ratio of the moving distances of the movable lens groups determined via focusing table data.

It is desirable for the number of the movable lens groups to be two.

It is desirable for the movable lens groups to include a second lens group and a fourth lens groups of a four-lens-group zoom lens system, wherein the second and fourth lens groups both have a step zooming function.

It is desirable for the moving distance of the fourth lens group to be larger than that of the second lens group during the autofocusing operation.

In an embodiment, an AF control apparatus is provided, including a plurality of movable lens groups, each of which is movable along an optical axis in accordance with a plurality of zoom steps for performing focusing independently, and a driving system for moving each of the movable lens groups. A moving path of each of the movable lens groups during an autofocusing operation is defined so that a ratio of moving distances of the movable lens groups in each of the zoom steps is a predetermined value defined for the each of the zoom steps.

It is desirable for the ratio of the moving distances to be an integer ratio in at least one of the zoom steps.

It is desirable for the driving system to include a plurality of pulse motors, the number of which corresponds to the number of the movable lens groups, each of the pulse motors providing a driving force to respective each of the movable lens groups, wherein the pulse motors have the same step angle; a plurality of rotational force transmission mechanisms, the number of which corresponds to the number of the movable lens groups, each of the rotational force transmission mechanisms transmitting a driving force generated by respective the each of the pulse motors to respective the each of the movable lens groups, wherein the rotational force transmission mechanisms having the same moving pitch; and a control device for sending a pulse signal having a pulse rate defined for each pulse motor to each of the pulse motors. A ratio of the pulse rates, of the pulse signals to be sent to respective the pulse motors during the autofocusing operation, is defined for each zoom step so as to be the same as the corresponding ratio of the moving distances of the movable lens groups determined via focusing table data.

It is desirable for the number of the movable lens groups to be two.

It is desirable for the movable lens groups to include a second lens group and a fourth lens groups of a four-lens-group zoom lens system.

It is desirable for the moving distance of the fourth lens group to be larger than that of the second lens group during the autofocusing operation.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2004-142894 and 2004-142895 (both filed on May 12, 2004) which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the general configuration of a digital camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal components of the digital camera shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a cross section of a zoom lens system and other components when the zoom lens system is located at the wide-angle extremity;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a cross section of the zoom lens system and other components when the zoom lens system is located at the telephoto extremity;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between each of the lens groups, driving mechanisms, and control mechanisms;

FIG. 7 shows the moving paths of the respective lens groups;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the zooming operation according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the focusing operation according to the present invention; and

FIG. 10 shows the moving paths of the respective lens groups in a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1 through 9. First of all, the general configuration of a digital camera 10 to which the invention is applied will briefly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

The digital camera 10 includes a camera body 10 a containing a photographic optical system (L1 through L4). The camera body 10 a has a box shape (rectangular tube) which is elongated along the optical axis O of the photographic optical system. Various buttons such as a power button B1 are provided on the top surface of the camera body 10 a, and a monitor (not shown) is provided on the rear side surface.

A grip 10 b having an elongated box shape (rectangular tube) for the user to hold is pivotally attached to a rotational axis 10 a 1 protruded through a side surface of the camera body 10 a. As shown in FIG. 2, the grip 10 b can move rotationally about the rotational axis 10 a 1 in front and rear directions with respect to the camera body 10 a. A shutter button B2 is provided on the grip 10 b, and a zoom operation lever ZL having a ring shape is provided around the shutter button B2 so as to move rotationally around the axis of the shutter button B2. The zoom operation lever ZL is constantly biased by a spring (not shown) to an initial position.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a lens housing 11 having openings at front and rear ends is fixedly mounted so as to extend along the optical axis O inside the camera body 10 a, and the four lens groups L1 through L4 which constitute the photographing optical system are provided in the lens housing 11.

A CCD mounting plate 12 is fixedly attached to the rear opening of the lens housing 11 by a plurality of screws. A screen 13, a low-pass filter 14, packing 15, and a CCD (imaging device) 16 are layered along the optical axis O and fixedly attached to a square mounting hole 12 a provided in the CCD mounting plate 12.

A pair of upper and lower supporting holes 12 b is formed in the CCD mounting plate 12. The rear ends of a pair of upper and lower guide rods 17 parallel to the optical axis O are fixedly fitted into the supporting holes 12 b. The front ends of the guide rods 17 are supported by a supporting member (not shown) provided in the front end of the inside of the lens housing 11. A pair of front and rear protrusions 18 a 1 is provided in the top of a fourth frame 18 positioned inside the lens housing 11, and guide holes 18 a coaxial to each other are provided in the protrusions 18 a 1. The inner end of a rack 19 is fitted between the front and rear protrusions 18 a 1. The upper guide rod 17 is slidably fitted into the front and rear guide holes 18 a and a guide hole 19 a provided in the inner end of the rack 19 coaxial to the front and rear guide holes 18 a, and the lower guide rod 17 is slidably engaged with a guide hole 18 b formed in the bottom of the fourth frame 18. A fourth lens group L4 (movable lens group, second focusing lens group) composed of 3 lenses is fixedly fitted into a supporting hole 18 c of the fourth frame 18. As described above, the fourth lens group L4 can travel linearly along the upper and lower guide rods 17 in the direction of the optical axis O, but cannot rotate around the optical axis O, thereby serving as a zooming lens group and a focusing lens group.

An opening 11 a is formed near the rear end of the periphery of the lens housing 11, and a pulse motor unit MU4 is fixedly mounted to a position corresponding to the opening 11 a formed in the periphery of the lens housing 11. The pulse motor unit MU4 includes a motor mounting plate 20, a feeding screw 21, and a pulse motor M4 (second pulse motor). The motor mounting plate 20 is fixedly attached to the periphery of the lens housing 11 by a plurality of screws. The feeding screw 21 is parallel to the optical axis O and is rotatably supported by the motor mounting plate 20 so as to rotate by its own axis. The pulse motor M4 is fixedly attached to the front end of the motor mounting plate 20. The driving shaft of the pulse motor M4 is coaxially fixed (integrated) to the front end of the feeding screw 21. The outer end of the rack 19 is protruded to the outside of the lens housing 11 through the opening 11 a, and a rack groove 19 b formed in the outer end of the rack 19 is screw-engaged with the feed screw 21. The upper guide rod 17, the feed screw 21, and the rack 19 (the rack groove 19 b) are components of a first rotational force transmission mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, a third frame 22 is disposed in front of the fourth lens group L4 in the lens housing 11, and is fixedly attached to a ring-shaped mounting surface 11 b formed about midway of the inner periphery of the lens housing 11 by a plurality of screws. A third lens group L3 is fixedly fitted into a supporting hole 22 a provided in the third frame 22, and a shutter block 23 is fixedly attached to the front of the third frame 22.

A second frame 24 is disposed in front of the third frame 22 in the lens housing 11. The upper guide rod 17 is slidably engaged with a guide groove 24 a formed on the top of the second frame 24, and the lower guide rod 17 is slidably fitted into a guide hole 24 b formed on the bottom of the second frame 24. A second lens group L2 (movable lens group) composed of 4 lens elements is fixedly fitted into a supporting hole 24 c of the second frame 24. As described above, the second lens group L2 can move linearly in the direction of the optical axis O along the upper and lower guide rods 17, but cannot rotate around the optical axis O, thereby serving as a zooming lens group and a focusing lens group.

Moreover, a guide hole 25 a parallel to the optical axis O is provided in a rack 25 fixedly attached to the second frame 24, and the upper guide rod 17 is slidably fitted into the guide hole 25 a. The outer end of the rack 25 protrudes to the outside of the lens housing 11 through an opening 11 c formed on the opposite side of the opening 11 a in the lens housing 11 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). A pulse motor unit MU2 is fixedly mounted at a position corresponding to the opening 11 c formed in the periphery of the lens housing 11 by a plurality of screws. The pulse motor unit MU2 has the same configuration as the pulse motor unit MU4 and includes a motor mounting plate 26, a feed screw 27, and a pulse motor M2 (first pulse motor). The feed screw 27 is screw-engaged with a rack groove 25 b having the same pitch as the rack groove 19 b and formed in the outer end of the rack 25. The upper guide rod 17, the feed screw 27, and the rack 25 (the rack groove 25 b) are components of a second rotational force transmission mechanism.

The upper and lower guide rods 17, the fourth frame 18, the pulse motor units MU2 and MU4, the rack 19 (first rotational force transmission system), the second frame 24, the rack 25 (second rotational force transmission system), a CPU 30, and a memory 40 are components of a step zoom mechanism (driving system).

A first frame 28 is fixedly attached to the front end of the lens housing 11 by a plurality of screws, and a first lens group L1 composed of 3 lenses is fixedly fitted into the first frame 28. As shown in FIG. 1, the first lens group L1 is exposed at the front end of the camera body 10 a, and a ring shaped filter screw 29 is provided on the front end of the lens housing 11. The filter screw 29 is located on the external side of the first frame 28, and accessories such as a filter can be attached thereto.

The zoom operation lever ZL, the CCD 16, the monitor, and the pulse motors M2 and M4 are electrically connected to the CPU 30 (control device) provided in the camera body, and the memory 40 is also electrically connected to the CPU 30. In the memory 40, a control program for zooming and focusing is installed, and a focusing table of each zoom step for one of the second lens group L2 and the fourth lens group L4 is also stored. The pulse motors M2 and M4 rotate upon receiving a command from the CPU 30 causing the corresponding feed screws 21 and 27 to rotate about their respective axes. When the feed screws 21 and 27 rotate, the rear rack 19 and the front rack 25 travel along the guide rods 17 in the direction of the optical axis O, causing the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 to travel linearly along the optical axis O.

Since the first lens group L1 and the third lens group L3 are fixedly attached to the lens housing 11 as described above, they do not travel during zooming and focusing. In other words, the first lens group L1 does not travel forward beyond the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Hence, the zoom optical system of the digital camera 10 of the present invention is an inner-zoom type and also an inner-focusing type in which the lens barrel does not extend outside the camera body during zooming and focusing. When the power button B1 is turned on, an image transmitted through the photographic optical system is automatically picked-up by the CCD 16 as necessary, and the all picked-up images can be displayed on the monitor as a still image.

The present digital camera 10 performs zooming via a step zooming method, and nineteen (19) zoom steps are provided over the entire zoom range as shown in FIG. 7. When the zoom lens system proceeds from zoom step 1 (wide-angle extremity) to zoom step 19 (telephoto extremity), the focal length of the zoom lens system is varied in nineteen (19) levels, gradually increasing the focal length. When the power button B1 is operated so as to be turned ON or turned OFF, the CPU 30 sends a pulse signal to the pulse motors M2 and M4 to cause the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 to automatically travel to the wide-angle extremity shown in FIG. 4.

An operating procedure for allowing the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 to travel in the zoom lens system configured as above and the operation of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 will be described hereinafter with reference mainly to FIGS. 6 through 9. First of all, an operating procedure during zooming from the wide-angle extremity to the telephoto extremity and the operation of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 8.

When the zoom operation lever ZL is turned to the telephoto side (the direction represented by an arrow T in FIG. 1) (step S11), the CPU 30 determines whether or not the power button B1 is ON and the shutter button B2 is not pressed (step S12). If the power button B1 is OFF or the shutter button B2 is pressed, the CPU 30 does not proceed to the next step. On the other hand, if the CPU 30 determines that the power button B1 is ON and the shutter button B2 is not pressed in step S12, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the current zoom step N (N is an integer between 1 and 19, N=1 in this case) of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 is zoom step 19 (the telephoto extremity) (step S13). The number of pulses of the pulse signals sent from the CPU 30 to the pulse motors M2 and M4 from the time when the power button is turned ON and the phase of each of the pulse signals are all stored in the memory 40. Therefore, the CPU 30 can always identify the current optical axial position of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 through managing the accumulated pulse number and the phase of each of the pulse signals.

If the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are at the telephoto extremity (zoom step 19), the CPU 30 does not read data from the focusing table and does not send pulse signals to the pulse motors M2 and M4. Namely, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 do not change their optical axial positions, and the digital camera enters a standby state for photographing. On the other hand, if the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are at the wide-angle extremity (zoom step 1) as in this case, the CPU 30 determines that the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are not at the telephoto extremity. Subsequently, the CPU 30 reads data from the focusing table for moving the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 from zoom step N (=1) to zoom step N+1 (2, in this case) (step S14), and sends a pulse signal according to the read data to the pulse motors M2 and M4. The pulse motors M2 and M4 then rotate in the normal direction, causing the rack 25 to travel in the rear direction along the guide rods 17 and the rack 19 to travel in the front direction along the guide rods 17. Therefore, the second lens group L2 travels in the rearward direction, and the fourth lens group L4 travels in the forward direction. The second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 thereafter reach a position corresponding to the current photographing distance L (for example, 2 m. A well known distance measuring device (not shown) is provided in the digital camera 10) for zoom step N+1 (=2), which is one step closer to the telephoto side than the last zoom step N (=1) (step S15).

When the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 have traveled to zoom step N+1 (=2) as described above, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the user has discontinued the operation of the zoom operation lever ZL (step S16). If it is determined that the operation has been discontinued, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are brought to a halt at zoom step N+1 (=2), and the digital camera enters a standby state for photographing. On the other hand, if the CPU 30 determines that the operation of the zoom operation lever ZL has not been discontinued, the CPU 30 again determines whether or not zoom step N+1 is the telephoto extremity (zoom step 19) (step S13) according to the accumulated number of pulses which have been sent to the pulse motors M2 and M4 and the phase of each of the pulse signals. If it is determined that zoom step N+1 is zoom step 19, the CPU 30 does not read data from the focusing table, and the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are not allowed to travel any further. On the other hand, if the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are at zoom step 2 as in this case, the CPU 30 determines that zoom step N+1 (=2) is not the telephoto extremity (zoom step 19), and reads data from the focusing table for moving the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 to a position corresponding to the current photographing distance (=2 m) for zoom step N+2 (=3) from zoom step N+2 (=2) (step S14), thus allowing the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 to travel to zoom step N+2 (=3).

When the zoom operation lever ZL is turned to the wide-angle side (the direction represented by an arrow W in FIG. 1) for varying the focal length of the zoom lens system stepwise from the telephoto side to the wide-angle side, a procedure essentially the same as in the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is employed except that the phase of pulse signals to be sent to the pulse motors M2 and M4 is different from that when the focal length is varied from the wide-angle side to the telephoto side. Accordingly, the procedure in this case is different from that when the lens groups travel from the wide-angle side to the telephoto side in the following points: the pulse motors M2 and M4 rotate in the opposite direction to when the lens groups travel from the wide-angle side to the telephoto side; in a step corresponding to step S13 of the flowchart, the CPU 30 determines whether or not the current zoom step is N=1 (wide-angle extremity); in a step corresponding to step S14, the CPU 30 reads data from the focusing table for moving the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 from the current zoom step N to zoom step N−1 which is one step closer to the wide-angle side; and in a step corresponding to step S15, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are moved to positions corresponding to the current photographing distance L for zoom step N−1, which is one step closer to the wide-angle side than the last zoom step N.

The moving paths of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 when the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are allowed to travel from the wide-angle extremity to the telephoto extremity according to the zooming operation descried above are shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 7, the optical axial positions of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 at the respective zoom steps (1 through 19) are shown for various photographing distances L (0.3 m, 0.5 m, 1 m, 2 m, 4 m, 8 m, 16 m, 32 m, and ·). The moving paths for each photographing distance L is obtained by plotting the optical axial positions of the second lens group L2 and the fourth lens group L4 at each of the zoom steps (if the photographing distance is 2 m, the moving path for L=2 m is obtained).

In addition, if the user releases their finger from the zoom operation lever ZL, the zoom operation lever ZL automatically returns to the initial position regardless of the turning direction of the zoom operation lever ZL (toward the telephoto side or the wide-angle side).

The operating procedure for AF and the operation of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 during an autofocusing operation will be described hereinafter with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 9.

In accordance with the zooming procedure described above, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 have traveled to zoom step N (N is an integer from 1 to 19). When the shutter button B2 is pressed halfway down (step S21), the CPU 30 determines whether or not the power switch is ON and whether or not the zoom operation lever ZL is in a non-operating state (step 22). If the CPU 30 determines that the power switch is OFF or the zoom operation lever ZL is in an operating state, the CPU 30 does not send a pulse signal to the pulse motors M2 and M4. Consequently, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are not allowed to move. On the other hand, if the CPU 30 determines that the power switch is ON and the zoom operation lever ZL is in a non-operating state in step S22, the CPU 30 reads data for the minimum photographing distance and the infinite distance at zoom step N from the focusing table (step S23), and sends a pulse signal while changing its phase to the pulse motors M2 and M4. The pulse motors M2 and M4 rotate accordingly, and a focus scan is performed. During the focus scan, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 initially move to a position corresponding to the minimum photographing distance at zoom step N (step S24), and subsequently move to a position corresponding to the infinite distance at zoom step N (step S25). In this embodiment, the minimum photographing distance during the focus scan is set at 0.3 m (see FIG. 7).

The data stored in the focusing table for carrying out the focus scan is defined such that the ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse signals to be sent to the respective pulse motors M2 and M4 is always 1:2 for any zoom step (N=1 through 19). Therefore, the fourth lens group L4 travels twice as long in distance than the second lens group L2 (i.e., twice faster) when the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 perform the focus scan.

Upon completion of the focus scan by the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4, the CPU 30 compares the contrast values of all the images picked up by the CCD 16 at various predetermined sampling positions in the focus scan range (step S26), and then calculates a peak value by interpolating the contrast values between the sampling positions (step S27). If the CPU 30 determines that the peak value exists in step S28, the CPU 30 reads data for moving the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 from the current position to the peak position from the focusing table (step S29), and sends pulse signals according to the focusing table data to the pulse motors M2 and M4. Subsequently, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are moved to the peak position (step S30). The ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse signals sent to the respective pulse motors M2 and M4 is also 1:2 in this case. Hence, the fourth lens group L4 travels twice longer in distance than the second lens group L2 (i.e., twice faster). When the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 reach the peak position (focused positions), a “focused” indication is displayed on the monitor provided in the rear surface of the camera body 10 a (step S31), and the camera enters the standby state for photographing in which a focused image can be photographed by fully pressing the shutter button B2 down.

However, if the CPU 30 determines that the peak value does not exist in step S28, the CPU 30 reads data in the case where the peak value does not exist from the focusing table (step S32). The second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are then moved to a predetermined position (for example, a position where the zoom lens system is focused under the conditions of zoom step N and the predetermined photographing distance (e.g. 2 m), or an over focused distance) according to the data (step S33), and a “focusing unable” indication is displayed on the monitor (step S34).

As described above, in this embodiment, the moving paths of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 during focusing are defined such that the ratio of the moving distances of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 during focusing is constant (1:2 in this embodiment) over the entire zoom range. Therefore, the lens systems can be controlled in a simpler manner during the AF operation compared with that of a conventional zoom lens system, and also the control system can be simply configured.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the pulse rotational angles of the pulse motors M2 and M4 are the same, and the rotational force transmission mechanism between the pulse motor M2 and the second lens group L2 (the upper guide rod 17, the rack 19, and the feed screw 21) and the rotational force transmission mechanism between the pulse motor M4 and the fourth lens group L4 (the upper guide rod 17, the rack 25, and the feed screw 27) have the same configuration. Namely, both rotational force transmission mechanisms have the same moving pitch (when the both pulse motors M2 and M4 rotate by the same angle, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 travel the same distance along the optical axis O). Furthermore, the ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse motors M2 and M4 is the same as the ratio of the moving distances (1:2) over the entire zoom range, and the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are moved along predetermined moving paths for focusing. Thus, a control system can be configured in a simpler manner. In other words, if the ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse motors M2 and M4 is the same as the ratio of the moving distances over the entire zoom range, it is sufficient to provide only one focusing table for the second lens group L2 or the fourth lens group L4 for each zoom step. namely, pulse signal to be sent from the CPU 30 to the pulse motor of the other lens group of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 can be obtained by multiplying the pulse signal for the pulse motor of the lens group of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 to which the focusing table is provided by the ratio of the moving distances (ratio of the moving speeds). Therefore, two focusing tables containing different data for each zoom step are not necessary.

Although the ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse motors M2 and M4 during focusing is defined as above, an alternative ratio may be employed. The alternative ratio is desirably an integer as employed in this embodiment for facilitating control of the focusing operation.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to FIG. 10.

The general configuration of the digital camera 10 of the second embodiment such as a mechanical configuration, a lens configuration, and a hardware configuration for a control system is the same as that of the first embodiment, however, a different focusing table for controlling each lens is employed in the second embodiment.

The same zooming operation procedure of the first embodiment is employed in the second embodiment except that a different focusing table from the first embodiment is employed. FIG. 10 shows the moving paths of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4. In FIG. 10, the moving path for each photographing distance L has been obtained through connecting the optical axial positions of the second lens group L2 and the fourth lens group L4 at each of the zoom steps.

The operating procedure for AF and the operation of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 during an autofocusing operation will be described hereinafter with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 9.

The second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 move to zoom step N (N is an integer from 1 to 19) via the zooming procedure described above. When the shutter button B2 is pressed halfway down (step S21), the CPU 30 determines whether or not the power switch is ON and whether or not the zoom operation lever ZL is in a non-operating state (step 22). If the CPU 30 determines that the power switch is OFF or the zoom operation lever ZL is in an operating state, the CPU 30 does not send a pulse signal to the pulse motors M2 and M4. Consequently, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are not allowed to move. On the other hand, if the CPU 30 determines that the power switch is ON and the zoom operation lever ZL is in a non-operating state in step S22, the CPU 30 reads data for the minimum photographing distance and the infinite distance at zoom step N from the focusing table (step S23), and sends a pulse signal while changing its phase to the pulse motors M2 and M4. The pulse motors M2 and M4 rotate accordingly, and a focus scan is performed. During the focus scan, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 initially move to a position corresponding to the minimum photographing distance at zoom step N (step S24), and subsequently move to a position corresponding to the infinite distance at zoom step N (step S25). In this embodiment, the minimum photographing distance during the focus scan is set at 0.3 m (see FIG. 10).

The data for carrying out the focus scan is defined such that the ratio of the pulse rates of pulse signals to be sent to the respective pulse motors M2 and M4 for any zoom step (any N from 1 to 19) is a constant defined for each of the zoom steps (predetermined value), so that during the focus scan by the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4, the fourth lens group L4 moves at the moving distance of the second lens group L2 multiplied by this constant (or at the moving speed of the second lens group L2 multiplied by this constant). In particular, as shown in FIG. 10, the ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse motors M2 and M4 is 0:1 for zoom steps 1 to 14 (the second lens group L2 is not allowed to travel), 1:1 for zoom steps 15 and 16 (the ratio of the moving distances and of the speeds of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are 1:1), 1:2 for zoom steps 17 and 18 (the ratio of the moving distances and of the speeds of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 is 1:2), and 1:3 for zoom step 19 (the ratio of the moving distances and of the speeds of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 is 1:3).

Upon completion of the focus scan by the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4, the CPU 30 compares the contrast values of all the images picked up by the CCD 16 at various predetermined sampling positions in the focus scan range (step S26), and then calculates a peak value by interpolating the contrast values between the sampling positions (step S27). If the CPU 30 determines that the peak value exists in step S28, the CPU 30 reads data for moving the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 from the current position to the peak position from the focusing table (step S29), and sends a pulse signal according to the focusing table data to the pulse motors M2 and M4. Subsequently, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are moved to the peak position (step S30). In this case, the ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse motors M2 and M4 listed in FIG. 10 for each zoom step is used. The ratios of the moving distances and of the moving speeds of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are also the ratio defined for each zoom step. When the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 reach the peak position (focused positions), a “focused” indication is displayed on the monitor provided in the rear surface of the camera body 10 a (step S31), and the camera enters the standby state for photographing in which a focused image can be photographed by fully pressing the shutter button B2 down.

However, if the CPU 30 determines that the peak value does not exist in step S28, the CPU 30 reads data in the case when the peak value does not exist from the focusing table (step S32). The second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are then moved to a predetermined position (for example, a position where the zoom lens system is focused under the conditions of zoom step N and the predetermined photographing distance (e.g. 2 m), or an over focused distance) according to the data (step S33), and a “focusing unable” indication is displayed on the monitor (step S34).

As described above, in this embodiment, the moving paths of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 during focusing are defined such that the ratio of the moving distances of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 during focusing is a predetermined value defined for each zoom step. Therefore, the lens systems can be easily controlled during the AF operation compared with that of a conventional zoom lens system, and also the control system can be configured in a simpler manner.

In addition, in the second embodiment, the pulse rotational angles of the pulse motors M2 and M4 are the same, and the rotational force transmission mechanism between the pulse motor M2 and the second lens group L2 (the upper guide rod 17, the rack 19, and the feed screw 21) and the rotational force transmission mechanism between the pulse motor M4 and the fourth lens group L4 (the upper guide rod 17, the rack 25, and the feed screw 27) have the same configuration. Namely, both rotational force transmission mechanisms have the same moving pitch (when the both pulse motors M2 and M4 rotate by the same angle, the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 travel the same distance along the optical axis O). Furthermore, the ratio of the pulse rates of the pulse motors M2 and M4 for each zoom step is the same as the ratio of the moving distances of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 for each zoom step during focusing, and the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 are moved along predetermined moving paths for focusing. Thus, a control system can be configured in a simpler manner. In other words, if the same ratio of the pulse rates for the pulse motors M2 and M4 as the abovementioned ratio of the moving distances is employed for each zoom step and the ratio is held constant at a given zoom step, it is sufficient to provide only one focusing table for the second lens group L2 or the fourth lens group L4 for each zoom step. Namely, a pulse signal to be sent from the CPU 30 to the pulse motor of the other lens group of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 can be obtained by multiplying the pulse signal for the pulse motor of the lens group of the second and fourth lens groups L2 and L4 to which the focusing table is provided by the ratio of the moving distances (ratio of the moving speeds). Therefore, two focusing tables containing different data for each zoom step are not necessary.

The first and second embodiments described above may be applied to any photographing optical system so long as focusing is carried out by a plurality of moving lens groups. Examples of such a photographing optical system include a photographing optical system having a less or greater number of lens groups than four lens groups, and a photographing optical system performing focusing by a combination of a plurality of moving lens groups (3 or more) other than the combination of the second and fourth lens groups.

In addition, the present invention may be applied not only to the digital camera 10 but also to a film camera, an endoscope, a macrometer, and the like.

Obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the present invention described herein, such modifications being within the spirit and scope of the invention claimed. It is indicated that all matter contained herein is illustrative and does not limit the scope of the present invention. 

1. An AF control apparatus comprising: a plurality of movable lens groups, each of which is movable along an optical axis for performing focusing independently; and a driving system for moving each of said movable lens groups, wherein a moving path of each of said movable lens groups during an autofocusing operation is defined so that a ratio of moving distances of said each of said movable lens groups is constant over an entire zoom range.
 2. The AF control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ratio of said moving distances is an integer ratio.
 3. The AF control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said driving system comprises: a plurality of pulse motors, the number of which corresponds to the number of said movable lens groups, each of said pulse motors providing a driving force to respective each of said movable lens groups, wherein said pulse motors have the same step angle; a plurality of rotational force transmission mechanisms, the number of which corresponds to said number of said movable lens groups, each of said rotational force transmission mechanisms transmitting a driving force generated by respective said each of said pulse motors to respective said each of said movable lens groups, wherein said rotational force transmission mechanisms have the same moving pitch; and a control device for sending a pulse signal having a pulse rate defined for each pulse motor to each of said pulse motors, wherein a ratio of said pulse rates, of the pulse signals to be sent to respective said pulse motors during said autofocusing operation, is the same as a corresponding ratio of the moving distances of said movable lens groups determined via focusing table data.
 4. The AF control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of said movable lens groups is two.
 5. The AF control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said movable lens groups comprise a second lens group and a fourth lens groups of a four-lens-group zoom lens system, wherein said second and fourth lens groups both have a step zooming function.
 6. The AF control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the moving distance of said fourth lens group is larger than that of said second lens group during the autofocusing operation.
 7. An AF control apparatus comprising: a plurality of movable lens groups, each of which is movable along an optical axis in accordance with a plurality of zoom steps for performing focusing independently; and a driving system for moving each of said movable lens groups, wherein a moving path of each of said movable lens groups during an autofocusing operation is defined so that a ratio of moving distances of said movable lens groups in each of said zoom steps is a predetermined value defined for said each of said zoom steps.
 8. The AF control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said ratio of the moving distances is an integer ratio in at least one of said zoom steps.
 9. The AF control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said driving system comprises: a plurality of pulse motors, the number of which corresponds to the number of said movable lens groups, each of said pulse motors providing a driving force to respective each of said movable lens groups, wherein said pulse motors have the same step angle; a plurality of rotational force transmission mechanisms, the number of which corresponds to said number of said movable lens groups, each of said rotational force transmission mechanisms transmitting a driving force generated by respective said each of said pulse motors to respective said each of said movable lens groups, wherein said rotational force transmission mechanisms having the same moving pitch; and a control device for sending a pulse signal having a pulse rate defined for each pulse motor to each of said pulse motors, wherein a ratio of said pulse rates, of the pulse signals to be sent to respective said pulse motors during said autofocusing operation, is defined for each zoom step so as to be the same as the corresponding ratio of the moving distances of said movable lens groups determined via focusing table data.
 10. The AF control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the number of said movable lens groups is two.
 11. The AF control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said movable lens groups comprise a second lens group and a fourth lens groups of a four-lens-group zoom lens system.
 12. The AF control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the moving distance of said fourth lens group is larger than that of said second lens group during said autofocusing operation. 